Articles

Brasulista #113

Brasulista

Newsletter of the early Brazilian missions, #113

April 27, 2009

“Looking back over the years, my life, all of the joys, success, the failure the tears, there is not a single day that passes that I do not have a moment of joy in my heart for having had the privilege of having served with each of you other chosen people who also learned to serve, work and love the work of the Lord in Brazil.”

--Joseph D. Storer, Brazil South and South Central Mission 72-74

In this issue:

Passing of oldest alumnus Horace Kearsley (BM 35-38)

Passing of Vern Taylor, construction supervisor

Reunion report

Elder Ronald J. Dent called to serve

Terra da Felicidade Brazil Cruise and Tour next January

Dubious Historical Distinction Award to Joseph Storer

New Brazilian Missions lapel pin available

ITEM IN PORTUGUESE: Wonderful report of the visit of Consul General Graça Lima to Church Headquarters

Our sympathy to the family of Horace Kearsley (BM 35-38) of Blackfoot, ID, who was honored at the recent reunion as the oldest surviving Brazilian missionary. His daughters have advised us that he was hospitalized with pneumonia and passed away on Easter Sunday, at the age of 93. Horace was interviewed on videotape at the reunion for recollections of his mission, so his family will have that recording. His wife Freda had preceded him in death in 2006. Horace was very pleased to attend the reunion and delighted to receive the recognition. His physician, Richard C. Hill (BNM 69-71) writes: “Brother Kearsley was an active Church member for his entire life and recently enjoyed attending the Idaho Falls Temple regularly. I enjoyed his friendship for many years as his family physician and enjoyed also being a fellow Brazil return missionary. He will be missed by all his family and associates.”

Passing of Vern Taylor

Linda Taylor of Holladay, UT, writes about her father: “Alf, I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that my father, Vern Taylor, passed away on April 8 of cancer after being diagnosed in February. Dad was the construction supervisor for the first District Center in Curitiba from 1963-1966. He worked with many of the missionaries and counted his missionary service in the Brazilian South Mission as one of the crowning achievements of his life.”

This is my opinion: Vern Taylor was like a mission president to the dedicated construction missionaries who served under his supervision.

Reunion Report

Sister Nancy Denhalter Cropper (BM 66-68) writes: I add my "Amen" that the reunion was wonderful. I looked at the program and thought, "Oh, no, this is going to go on for hours," but it was well-organized and just the right length. The food was marvelous. I missed a lot of Hicken missionaries who came to our last Hicken-only reunion, but on the other hand, there were some I hadn't seen for years at this one too. President Hicken told us several experiences I had not heard before. We missed Sister Hicken and hope she will feel up to coming next time. Nancy (Denhalter) Cropper, '66 - '68. (lncropper@juno.com)

My wife Thelma and I have received our third Call to serve as missionaries. We have always said we would serve where the Lord wanted us to serve. The calls for us have been perfect and all three calls have been to Brazil. Our first mission we served in the Florianopolis Mission as proselyting and leadership training missionaries. Our second mission I served as executive secretary to the North Area Presidency and my wife and I served in the Recife Temple as ordinance workers. This next mission, which will start in July, will be mental health advisor in São Paulo. We are convinced that the Lord knows where we are needed and when we are needed if we just trust in him our calls will be perfect for us and those whom we serve. I was called to be a Missionary to the Brazilian mission in 1958 and was released from the Brazil South Mission in 1961. My wife has come to love Brazil and its people as much as I have. The Lord bless you for your efforts. Ronald and Thelma Dent (ronjdent@earthlink.net)

Thanks to all who attended the reunion on April 2 and who contributed to the effort with food and money donations, including purchases of lapel pins. See below for how to order the new Brazilian Missions pin.

Dubious Historical Distinction Award

Joseph D Storer, 72-74, of Middleburg, FL, writes from Paris, France, where he spends some of his time:

“Dear Elder Gunn, Reading your newsletter and all of the stories I remember the great joy and happiness I felt while serving a Mission. I was a junior companion working in Presidente Prudente, SP, andmuch to my surprise I was told to get on a Leito and come directly to São Paulo where I was met at the bus station by an Elder Salisbury who everyone knew as he had been the financial assistant to the Mission President for almost all of his Mission. He said “Elder Storer, great to meet you. President Christensen is tied up and I go home in a month so you need to get busy as you are being called to replace me.” I said, “Huh?” He said, “Yes.” President Christensen had prayed about replacing him and then happened to look at different missionaries backgrounds and saw that I was a business major and had taken two different courses in accounting so I would be getting trained by Elder Salisbury for the next month and then needed to get busy acquiring all of the necessities for a new mission home, office and a Mission President. “Okay,” I said. Then I was handed a 25-page list of items to acquire like, house, office, cars, etc. Needless to say I was overwhelmed. Elders Salisbury said not to worry as all I had to do was follow the manual. He then handed me the biggest book I had ever seen. The next day I met with President Christensen to whom I then revealed that the only reason I had taken two classes in accounting was in an effort to get one passing grade. He told me, “Well Elder Storer, the Lord knows what you are capable of doing.” Little did I know that this experience would be one of the most important tasks for preparing me for what has proven to by my life’s mission. I was born and raised in a little town called Iona, Idaho, and before my mission had never been east of Jackson Hole Wyoming and never further south than Provo. I had the privilege of being on the original staff of President Nelson Baker, saw the 4th Mission opened and was involved remotely with the purchase of the ground for the São Paulo Temple. This of course brings about one of my most notable stories. Like many men, I have never felt it necessary to read the instruction manuals. Well when we serve, the Lord will always find a way to teach us the thing we will need to know for the calling at hand and many times in preparation for our futures. I had a wonderful experience at the mission home and found I had quite a gift of negotiating the best deals with those precious tithing funds, making certain that the money the Mission spent was spent well. I have always felt this experience was in many ways the beginning of my professional life as I know it. This is where I earned some real distinction. I forgot to read the part in the finance manual that said anytime you write a check over something like $10K you needed to telex Salt Lake so they could fund your accounts as they never kept large balances. Well some Brethren from Salt Lake showed up one day in the Mission Office and instructed me to write a check for what I believe was something like $ much larger. No problem. I wrote the check. Well I will tell you that if you ever want to leave your mark in the annals of the Church just be the dumbbell that writes the check that initially bounces for the purchase of the land for the São Paulo Temple. Fortunately the Church immediately covered the check but I still get heckled about it at any mission reunion that I attend. Having served in many positions since my mission, that is not a mistake I have ever made again in the Church or in the business world. This evening I happen to be sitting in a small apartment in Paris with my bride of 33 years and reading your news letter I feel like my mission was only yesterday. Perhaps the reality is that for me my mission has become my life. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for calling me on a mission and for having had the privilege of serving it in Brazil. My oldest son served in Guatemala City; my second in Spanish New York City; my third was in the Washington Spokane Mission; and my youngest is currently entering his last 90 days of service in the Russia Samara Mission. I can say with joy that any disappointment I may have felt that at least one of my sons was not called to serve in Brazil has been completely overcome by the love I see each of them have for the area in which they served. It is now my hope that perhaps someday before I am to old and feeble that I will get a chance to perhaps serve another mission working in the Curitiba Temple. As I know we are not supposed to covet Church positions I can be assured that will never happen but one thing for certain that I know will happen is that I will fall in love instantly wherever and whenever I get a chance to serve another full time mission. Looking back over the years, my life, all of the joys, success, the failure, the tears, there is not a single day that passes that I do not have a moment of joy in my heart for having had the privilege of having served with each of you other chosen people who also learned to serve, work and love the work of the Lord in Brazil. Funny thing, we attend our Ward here in Paris and the Church is strong and true here as well.

I will always offer a prayer of special thanks for the endless love of my fantastic mission president and his wife, President Nelson Baker and Sister Lucille Baker. Someone who gives me sound advice even today. The Savior Jesus Christ lives; he has restored his Church and all the keys to his gospel and it is led today by a living Prophet, Elder Thomas S. Monson. Of this I bear my solemn testimony. God Speed to all of those missionaries now serving wherever they may be.

Alf’s note: I believe I won’t get in trouble if I say that it is perfectly okay for senior missionaries to express preferences as to the type and even location of the mission they hope to serve. I was in the dressing room of the newly opened Porto Alegre Temple a few years ago and asked an American officiator there a rhetorical question: "How do you get a job like this?" He said it helps to speak the language. I said I did. He said, "You go home and tell your stake president that you speak Portuguese, the language of Brazil, and would like to serve a temple mission, and next July you will be in Campinas." That was when Campinas temple was anticipated to be opened. That brother had already served at São Paulo, Recife and then at Porto Alegre as I recall. Of course, after all your preferences are expressed, you will leave it to the Lord to inspire his servants to extend a call.

Brazilian Missions lapel pins

Shameless commercial plug: Please help us raise funds for the next super reunion by buying the new “Brazilian Missions” lapel pins. Buy one for each of your suits, and for each of your children or grandchildren who served in Brazil. Wear one to church and tell every younger ex-missionary who served in Brazil where they can get these lapel pins for $5 each.

All proceeds go into the future reunions fund. We sold 140 at the reunion and 67 have already been sold by mailed-in orders. Which means we only have 793 left. $5 each. Such a deal. See the attached artist’s rendition.

Note: I met one senior sister—a delightful person—who is interested in being on this tour and I would like to know of any other single sister who would like to go and share a stateroom/hotel room to take advantage of the "double occupancy" rate.

Finally, this exciting report from Nei Garcia of Brazil Public Affairs: